1983: Tumbleweeds: Once again native Americans are portrayed as "dumb Indians." Limpid Lizard is a sloppy, uneducated, naive redskin in a loin cloth.

Comic perpetuates
Stereotypes
1983, May 10 Herald and Review 
Letter to the Editor
      To the Editor: Probably several thousand children in Central Illinois read the comics in the Sunday Herald & Review. With this fact in mind, I was very distressed when I saw the "Tumbleweeds" strip on April 24. 
      Once again native Americans are portrayed as "dumb Indians." Limpid Lizard is a sloppy, uneducated, naive redskin in a loin cloth. His girlfriend is a passive, cute, wide-eyed Indian princess. These stereotypes are demeaning to all native Americans.      
1983 April 24, Herald and Review 
      Children are so impressionable. Their ideas about minority ethnic groups are shaped by little things -- even comics.   ~~ Bryce Decatur 
1983, May 10 Herald and Review 
1983, July 7 The Age 
'Tumbleweeds'
1984 Aug 31. Statesman Journal 
Letter to the Editor
      The comic strip 'Tumbleweeds' by T.K. Ryan is racist and should be discontinued.
      It is the only comic strip whose theme is a distinctive ethnic culture. The strip in which the dumb chief forces the braves to do a rain dance so he can use his canoe in the dry season is an example of the insensitivity of this cartoon. Dancing is an important social and religious element of the native American culture.
      While some of the funniest strips, e.g.g 'Peanuts' and 'Garfield,' are successful because they ascribe human characteristics. The deliberate illustration of the American Indian as a dumb ape-like creature is grotesque. If the characters were black and the setting were African tribal culture, the cries of racism would be shrill. I see little difference here.
      I am surprised that this comic strip has escaped controversy. I suspect it is because few readers give it more than a passing glance. I doubt seriously that it would be missed by any but just a few. -- Steven R. Huff, Salem 
1984 Aug 31. Statesman Journal 
1984 March 5. The Indianapolis News 
1984 April 7, News Press. 
1986 Feb 3 The Star Press 

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